Thank you for taking time to visit, and I hope I am even a tiny bit helpful as I have been helped and blessed by so many others. I have been doing Calligraphy since teens, and card making for many years as well. In 1990 I delighted in the joys of stamping with ink and embossing after a trip to Cairns, Qld. In 2009 I discovered the brayer, 2010 the Cuttlebug, also have now taking to reading up on crafting blogs and lo! Here I am, on one of my own.

I live on the coast of eastern Australia. I am a Christian. I trusted in the LORD down here at the beach, amazingly it is not far from where I now live. It was over 50 years ago, after a Beach Mission Service at the age of 12 years

Friday 25 December 2020

Christmas Day 2020 + Christmas NBUS Snippets card

 Well, it’s arrived! Christmas Day 2020! Tis here, heralding the celebration of our coming King of Kings over two centuries ago. And also heralding soon the end of 2020... is that cheering that I hear? at the thought of 2020 passing?!

Wherever you are, I’m thinking and praying for you all, many are affected and will admit we are here too, as some who planned to come were obliged to stay in Syd due to outbreak there. Thankfully we here on North coast of NSW are still fine, no Covid since April. Long may it continue! Living in country definitely has its advantages.

Now Christmas is important, it’s really the most important Advent of human history. Advent meaning coming... if Christ had not come all those many years ago to be our Saviour, we truly would be bereft of all hope! Through sin we are in isolation, isolated, cut off from God. 

As COVID isolates many, so too are we isolated, without Christ as our Saviour.


Luke 2:7-11 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

This is a beautiful item I read on a friends page on FB, I’m not sure who wrote the original. 

"A Magical, Starry Night"

How many long, exhausting days had the shepherds spent feeding, protecting, and caring for their flocks? 

How many nights had they spent looking into the starry sky? 

I wonder what they thought about and if they prayed much on the hillside. 

On an ordinary night, as the shepherds were just doing their jobs, heaven exploded into the sky and invaded the hillside, their hillside, to give them a special message. 

Unbelievable! The Saviour that was promised had come to them. They were told where to find the baby! 

They were told where to find their Messiah. They were going to see God. They had been invited to see God. 

If the newborn Savior had been born in a palace, the shepherds would not have been at the top of the guest list. They were, however, perfectly dressed for a stable and would feel totally comfortable going there for a visit.

 I wonder if part of the message to the shepherds is a message to us. 

In the middle of our ordinary lives, our God wants to meet us and reveal who He is. 

He is an intimate, loving God - Who chose to come to us as a helpless baby in a smelly barn. 

Jesus is a gift of love, mercy, and grace. He alone has the power to save us. 

What a God!  (copied from a friend)


However all this is worthless!

... unless we come simply and humbly to Jesus as sinner - needing His salvation full and free.

 I think many of us this year have been strongly reminded that life maybe snuffed out as quickly as a candle flame! 

Having had a heart attack in June and adding to my list of another close call, I walk mindfully of this fact, EVERY day!

 That is why I do not stay silent, but mention it often. I’ve seen and know  how fragile life is!

God is only a prayer away, please I beg of you dear friends, do not close your eyes this night, without trusting in Him as your Lord and Saviour. 

None of us are promised tomorrow or even this whole minute.. only this second.

 “What is our life? but a vapour that appeareth for a little while then vanisheth away.” 

To read how I trusted in Christ as a child, over fifty years ago, read this post here, please, and do likewise!

Now I’ve some Aussie photos to share and also a card. Here first of all is my card.
It was inspired by dear Darnell’s card, on the left. 
When I saw it this idea popped into my head. 

I’ve used a (disc.) Memory Box stars stencil, with Versamark and gold EP instead of Background stamp like Darnell, my stamped greeting is by Our Daily Bread from Isaiah 9:6. Use it a lot.
Backed greeting on Vellum with Kraft card as gold embossed stars underneath distracted too much, and don’t have lot of thick vellum to use so added double layer, and gold bling to nativity star. The nativity is from Di's gift from Sweet Pea Nativityscape. All are snippets on this card, except for white base - Kraft, gold cheap shop Mirri card, and that vellum was one teeny strip left from a card batch bake a week or so ago, so off for a Christmas play in the Snippets playground, yay! Wonder if enough snow for a snowball fight?! 
And now I’ve started on next years cards. 
Be warned in this blog I make Christmas cards all year around.

Now to Aussie photos ..

These few are of beaches this week, such a contrast after all that rain, and huge tempestuous seas!
And the visitors and locals in this photo at the creek, five mins from my house is showing how all enjoy our summery Christmas Downunder!
As folks were fascinated last week by the well camouflaged Tawny Frogmouth, my friend in SA, who did last week’s wren mid flight, posted this.. a pair of Tawny Frogmouth!
Please note - some folks kept thinking they were owls, even though I said they are not owls. Just like koalas are not bears, Aust is often different to northern spheres. To read up more on Tawny Frogmouth, see here

I may take a wee break from blogging and come back in the new year. Depends on what happens as uncertain at moment. 

However I really want to thank every single one of you who comment so faithfully even though I’m not as good at returning your kindness, as I ought to be, you don’t know how much really bless my heart!

I pray every blessing upon you and yours this Christmas and in the days ahead, especially prayers for UK, USA, Europe, and too in Oz the north Sydney beach area in lockdown, I’ve family there...  and too many other places. 

Love and prayers Shaz in Oz.x 

Linking over with:
1. Word Art Wednesday - anything goes. Both cards  http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com
2.  The Impression Obsession bauble is also a NBUS, Never Before Used SCHTUFF - so off to the NBUS Challenge too. Here!
3 Dis Snippets challenge over here
4. Simon says Wednesday Challenge  - sparkle and shine.Here
5 Simon Days Monday Challenge- Celebrate! Here!

20 comments:

loz said...

Beautiful card and aussie photos Shaz. I hope you have a very Happy and safe christmas and hoping 2021 is better for everyone..Hugs..Loz

Regina said...

I forget sometimes you are a day ahead of us here in the United States. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!πŸ™

Betsy said...

Merry, Merry Christmas my dear Shaz! Dennis and I read your post together. We both appreciate every thing you shared with us and it's even more meaningful today. A day we celebrate His coming to earth for the sole purpose of redeeming our lives.
Take care of yourself my friend and I pray you have a wonderful day.
Blessings and love,
Betsy

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Thank you for your post Shaz! :) I wish you too a wonderful Christmas, full of peace and joy!! Adorable snippets card and lovely shots from your places.
After 2019 years of Christmas it's unbelievable that people all around the world this time can't hug their loved ones. We all will remember this, if God wants to give us another chance.
Hugs, love and prayers

Crafting With Jack said...

A beautiful post today. I wish you a wonderful Christmas and a happy and healthy new year. I have become fascinated with the Tawny Frogmouth and have been looking at lots of lovely pictures. I am not surprised people confuse then with owls. There is even an Owlet Frogmouth, but once you have a side view and a look at their mouth,you realise they are not owls. Please feel free to email me if you would like to keep I touch if you are not blogging for a while xx Angela

Grandmabeckyl.blogspot said...

Enjoyed what shared about the shepherds. In our Israel class at church we learned the shepherds were caring for sheep that were the sacrificial lambs/sheep. Never knew that. Lovely cards you make. I drew on paper for a card for my husband. With my injury I had this year I too thanked God for being with me. Merry Christmas and Magnificent Maskless 2021!!!πŸŽ„πŸŒŸπŸ„πŸ‘ πŸšΌπŸ’œπŸ‘ΌπŸŒˆ

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

Wishing you a blessed Christmas Shaz, from a cold and frosty Winter in the UK. Enjoy that Summer sunshine & stay safe. Hugs Tracey xx

brenda said...

An inspirational Christmas Day post Shaz, thank you.

It is so refreshing to see the beautiful sunny beaches when here in the UK it so cold, much rain and flooding yet again for us on Wednesday, but today dawns brighter with frost.

It will be such a different Christmas for so many right around the World and I will confess I still struggle to comprehend the sheer devastation created by the dreadful virus. So much sadness for so many and we remain helpless, praying for the miracles of science to ease the burden.

For us it will be just he two of us for the first time in many decades and tinged with sadness that a year has passed without being able to see some of our children and grandchildren. Our youngest son and partner had a positive test this week, I would love to be able to hug them but instead can only shed tears and pray they recover. He is the usually fit and healthy athlete and instead flattened by the virus, legs that won't work and struggling for breath.

I send you my love and thanks for your friendship and wish you a peaceful Christmas Day.

B x

Charlotte said...

Merry Christmas, what a pleasure having you here on Christmas Morning. You were just as good as the coffee cake my step daughter brought us yesterday. Prayers, Blessings and Love to you and yours.

Conniecrafter said...

Gorgeous nativity ornament on your card!
The tawny Frogmouths are so cute sitting there together :)
Merry Christmas!

Aimeslee Winans said...

Merry Christmas to you and your, dear Shaz! XOX

Anne said...

beautiful card, stunning photos! Happy Christmas dear friend! You are so right to urge us to make the decision for Jesus NOW.We shouldn't take tomorrow for granted xxx

MiamiKel said...

Beautiful post and such an inspirational passage! Truly HE is the reason for the season - love your card! Merry Christmas to you! xx

Craftychris said...

I hope your Christmas was fabulous! Love your beautiful card and your awesome Aussie pics. Take care and stay safe xxx

Megan J said...

Hi Shaz, sorry to hear that some of your loved ones are in Sydney's lockdown, we are far enough out that we only have had a minimum of restrictions in the mountains. I hope you had a lovely Christmas, our local church is remaining online until they can have the entire congregation inside the church... they managed an outdoor carols which supported the local Salvation Army toy appeal. Christmas day was very quiet, damp and misty white. One budgie is a chatter box, the second was sold as a boy, it bites like a girl though, only time will tell. Have a wonderful New Years, happy crafting... Megan

Ellibelle said...

Beautiful creation and such wonderful photos! Love the birds!
Thanks so much for sharing with us at Allsorts challenge! Hope you'll play along again soon!
Ellibelle's Corner

Linby said...

Thanks for the link to the Tawny frogmouth - wow I can't believe how they mimic tree bark. Great photos.
Love your card and you've give me an idea to use a die that I haven't used in a while, thanks for the inspiration.

Darnell said...

Another fabulous and fascinating blog post, Shaz! First of all, I love your CASE of my card and I appreciate that you shared it with everyone at NBUS! Love the nativity inside the ornament! Thank you, too, for sharing the wonderful Oz photos! Enjoy your bloggy break. I've sure enjoyed mine this month! Happy New Year Hugs, Darnell

Di said...

Dearest Shaz, your blog post was a joy to read my friend. First of all I want to thank you so much for your beautiful card and also the contents - the calendars are so useful and we have one each. Dudley doesn't need one as he's still learning to read! :) Love your snippets cards and so delighted to see you using part of the Nativity die set. I wish you a peaceful 2021 and so envy you being well away from the madness we're trying to manage over here. And I also do appreciate every one of your wonderful comments Shaz - bless you for being such a good friend.

Hugs

Di xx

Di said...

Great idea about varying the time of grooming! The element of surprise :)

Love

Di xx

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